The Impact of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage on Various Cycling Performance Metrics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of trials evaluating the impact of exercise-induced muscle damage on performance metrics.
PubMed 38241464 · doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000004629
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on cycling performance metrics. The primary outcome was cycling performance across submaximal, incremental, sprint, and time/distance trials. Secondary outcomes included markers of muscle damage: creatine kinase (CK), delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and muscular contraction force. Data were extracted and pooled using standardized mean differences.
What was found
Peak power output during sprint and incremental cycling protocols significantly decreased following EIMD protocols (p < 0.05). During submaximal cycling, ventilation and rating of perceived exertion significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas oxygen consumption at 24 to 48 hours showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Time-trial and distance-trial performances did not change significantly (p > 0.05). Confirmation of muscle damage was established by significant increases in CK and DOMS (p < 0.05) alongside significant reductions in muscular force (p < 0.05). Specific numerical effect sizes and confidence intervals were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
These findings indicate that while endurance time trials may show resilience, unaccustomed muscle-damaging exercise directly impairs maximal peak power and increases the physiological and perceptual cost of submaximal cycling. Coaches and athletes must carefully schedule muscle-damaging workouts to prevent performance decrements during cycling training.
Limits
The abstract does not state the number of included studies, total participant count, participant training status, or specific numerical effect sizes and confidence intervals. Potential heterogeneity arising from differing muscle damage induction protocols, cycling test designs, and recovery intervals could not be evaluated from the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) results in decreased muscle force production.